Switching system



J. B. HARhOW SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed-Juiy s, 1919' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MZmNov. 11 1924.

J. B. HARLOW SWITCHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5 1919Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

is!) STATES JOHN B. HARLOW, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOWESTERN 1,514,854 PATENT OFFICE,

ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

, SWITCHING SYSTEM.

. Application filed July 5,

To all whom z'tmay concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. HARLOW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwitchingSystems, of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to switching systems and particularly to suchsystems employed in detecting the presence of marine org submarinevessels.

In systems of this character, especially those used in observing certainareas in which the operations of several fixedly positioned submergedvibration detectors each responsive to mechanical vibrations propagatedthrough the water from a submarine or other source located within itseffective range, are observed individually or binaually in pairs, it isdesirable to provide means irquiring a minimum effort and time on thepart of the observer for positively selecting the detectors to beobserved. This feature is especially desirable in systems in which it isnecessary not only to select stations of this nature, but also to selectcertain pairs of detectors at a station.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system of thisnature in which the desired detecting station upon being selectedisretained in a selected condition until released, thereby permittingthe selec tion and reselection of the detectors therea singly or inpairs as desired.

In order to attain this object, in accordance with a feature of theinvention a system in which the detecting and observing stations areinterconnected by a plurality of metallic physical transmission line,circuits is provided with switching means at each station, individuallyand selectively 1919. Seriafl No. 208,756.

similar reference characters indicating corresponding elements of thesystems.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, an observers station A, which may belocated at some convenient point on the shore, is provided with asending or selecting key 1 controlling the application of current to areversing relay 2 from a source of current 101 for'impressing currentimpulses of reversed polarity from a source of current 102 upon acircuit obtained by simplexing through suitable simplexing coils 47 and52 a phantom circuit comprising side circuits, including conductors l5and 6--7, respectively, and the associated simplexing coils 48 to 51inclusive, leading to the detecting stations B and C. Although for thesake of clearness only two such detecting stations are shown, there maybe and ordinarlly are, several such stations distributed over the areato be observed. A selector 8 serVers station A, is included in thesimplexed phantom circuit at each of stations B and C. The selectivelyoperated circuit controlling device disclosed in Patent No. 1,343,256issued to Joseph C. Field June 15, 1920, may be used to advantage inthis connection. A key 3 at the observers station A, controlling thepolarity of the current supplied to the phantom circuit from a source ofcurrent 103, selectively controls a relay 11 at the selected station ytocause the closure of its contacts for selectively bridging associatedrelays 12 and 13 across the phantom circuit, such relays controlling theassociation of detectors 14, 15 and 16 thereat with the physicaltransmission circuits composed of conductors 45,. and 6'-7.

These detectors may be of any suitable type responsive to mechanicalvibrations propa; gated through the water to cause variations inelectrical conditions of an associated circuit, and may be suitablymounted in a triangular arrangement upon a fixedly positioned tripod orother framework. A key 17 at the observers station A. controls theapplication of current from sources 104 and 105 to the transmissionlines through retardation coils 53 and 54 respectively. A. binauralobservation'set 33, indicated within the dotted rectangle, also providedat station A, consists of receivers and 21 which may be of any usualtype in series with condensers 18 and 19 respectively included inbridged relation to the physical circuits 67 and 45' respectively. Thesounds produced by receiver 20 are conveyed'to ear piece 28 throughserially interconnected air tubes 22, 24 and 26, while the sounds.produced by receiver 21 are conveyed to earpiece 29 through seriallyinterconnected air tubes 23, and 27. The effective lengths of adjustableair tubes 24 and 25 are relatively varied by the shifting of a movablestop member which responds to the rotation of a hand wheel 32, theposition of such member being indicated by the pointer 31 in relation toan associated scale.

In Fig. 2 a reversing relay 2 at the observers station A controlled by akey 1 supplies current impulses of reversed polarity from a source ofcurrent 102 to a phantom circuit comprising physical transmission linesor side circuits 45 and 67 and as sociated simplexing coils 48 to 51inclusive. A selector 34 similar to selector 8 of the system shown inFig. 1 is provided in the bridge ofthe" phantom circuit at each ofstations B and C and is individually and selectively responsive to apredetermined series of, closely succeeding reversed current impulsesreceived over the phantom circuit to advance its arm 35 to engagecontact 36, in which osition it is mechanically retained. A relay 3%,bridged across the phantom circuit upon the engagement of arm 35 withcontact 36 of the selected selector, controls the association of relays38 and 39 with the physical lines 67 and 4'5 respectively. Keys and 46at the observers station control the application of predeterminedcurrent polarities from sources of current 104 and 105 to the physicallines 45 and 6-7 respectively, to selectivelycontrol relays 39 and 38for associating detectors 40, 41 and 42 at the selected station withsuch physical lines for binaural observation by means of an observationset 33 similar to that shown in Fig. 1. v

It is thought that-the invention may be more fully comprehended from thefollowing descriptionrof the operation of the system shown on theaccompanying drawings.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, and assuming that it is desired toselect the detectors 14, 15 and 16 at station B for observation, relay 2is caused to transmit a predetermined number and arrangement of closelysucceeding alternating current impulses from source of current 102 overthe simplexed phantom circuit by a corresponding number of successiveactuations and releases of key 1, one impulse being trans mitted foreach actuation, and a second impulse of reversed polarity for eachrelease of the key. Such impulses flowing through condenser 44 and thewinding of selector 8 at station B cause the selector to advance step bystep until it reaches its individual selective position.in which it ismechanically re-v tained. Other selectors which may be associated withthe system also advance in response to such impulses, but not beingadjusted to the completed series and consequently not retained, returnto normal upon the cessation of the series for selecting station B.Relay 11 is thereupon operated over a circuit established from one sideof bat tery 103, through one normal contact of key 3, the side circuitof the phantom circuit comprising simplexing coils 49 and 51 andconductors 6 and 7, the winding of relay 11, contact 10 and the arm ofselector 8 engaged thereby, the side circuit comprising simplexing coilsand 48 and conductors 4 and -5 and the other normal contact of key 3 tothe other side of battery 103. The direction of flow of current throughthis circuit is such that lelay l1 closes its contact 55,

bridging relay 13 across the phantom circuit in parallel with relay 11.The operation of relay 13 in response to the current present in thephantom circuit bridges detector 15 across the line conductors 6 and 7,through contact 58 of relay 13, and the detector 16, across the lineconductors 4 and 5, through contact 57 of relay 13. The actuation of key17 supplies current from sources 104 and 105 to the physical linecircuits throu 11 retardation coils 53 and 54 respective y, so that thecurrent-varying devices associated with the detectors 15 and 16 causevariations in current in such physical circuits in response to thevibrations of the responsive members of the detectors. Thecharacteristics of the simplexing coils and the other apparatus bridgedacross the physical circuits are so chosen as to present no materialinterference to the transmission of such currrent variations.

These current variations are transmitted through condensers 18 and 19 toreceivers 20 and 21 respectively of the binaural observation set 33. Thesounds being produced by receiver 20 in response thereto, areconveyedthrough air tubes 22, 24 and 26 to the earpiece 28, while the soundsproduced by receiver 21 in response to these vibrations are conveyedthrough the air tubes 23, 25 and 27 to the ear piece 29. The movablestop member 30 is then shifted by means of the hand Wheel 32 until theobserver, upon listening binaurally to the sounds emitted by theearpieces, receives the impression that the source of sound is straightahead. The position of the pointer 31 relative to the associated scalewhen such an impression is obtained, indicates the angular relation ofthe observed source of vibration to a base line joining detectors and16.

The observer thereupon actuates key 3 to interrupt the supply of currentto the phantom circuit to release relays 11 and 13, disconnectingdetecto-rs 15 and 16, and to subsequently apply current to the phantomcircuit through the alternate contacts of the key. Due to the reverseddirection of flow of such current from the source 103, relay 11 closesits contact 56. Relay 12 thereby bridged across the phantom circuitoperates and the closure of contact 60 thereof bridges detector 14across the line conductors 4 and 5, and the closure of contact 59thereof bridges detector 15 across the line conductors 6 and 7. Thesounds produced in-receivers and 21 in response to the vibrations ofdetectors 14 and 15 are then binaurally observed as in the previousinstance, the position of the pointer 31 indicating the angular relationof the observed source of vibration to a base line joining detectors 14and 15.

The actuation of key 1 to transmit over the simplexed phantom circuit aclearing,

out series of impulses adapted to step any operated selector beyond itsretained position thereupon releases selector 8, the switch arm 9thereof disengaging contact 10 to release relays 11 and 12,disconnecting the detectors 14 and 15, and restoring the system tonormal.

In a similar manner, detectors at other stations, such as station C,Which may be associated with the system, may be selected and binaurallyobserved and the angular relation of the source of vibration to baselines joining each pair may be determined. From the various readingsobtained in this manner, the location of the source of vibrations may bedetermined with precision.

In the modified form of the system shown in Fig. 2, key 1 is actuatedand released as tact 61 of relay 37, Winding of relay 38,.

conductor 6, retardation coil 54, and the other normal contact of key 46to the other side of battery 105. A corresponding circuit is alsoestablished for relay 39 extending'from battery 104 through one normalcontact of key 45,'conductor 5, contact 62 of relay 37, winding of relay39, conductor-4, retardation coil 53, and the other normal contact ofkey to the other side of battery 104. The direction of current flowthrough these circuits is such that relay 38 is operated to close itscontact 68 and relay 39 is operated to close contacts 64 and 65,bridging detector 40 across line conductors 6 and 7 by the closure ofcontact 68 of relay 38, and detector 41 across line conductors 4 and 5by the closureof contacts 64 and 65 of relay 39. Current is supplied tothe current-varying devices of detector 40 over a circuit establishedfrom one side of battery 105 through one normal contact of key 46,conductor 7 contact 68 of relay 38, currentvarying devices of detector40, conductor 6, retardation coil 54 and the other normal contact of key46 tothe other side of battery 105. Current is also supplied to thecurrent-varying device of detector 41 over a similar circuit establishedfrom one side of battery 104 through one normal contact of key 45,conductor 5, contact 64 of relay 39, current-varying device of detector41, contact 65 of relay 39, conductor 4, retardation coil 53 and theother normal contact of key 45 to the other side of a battery 104. I

As described in connection with the system shown in Fig. 1, detectors 40and 41 are then binaurally observed by set 33 and the angular relationof the source of vibration to the base line adjoining such detectors isdetermined.

The observer then actuates key 45 to release relay 39 for disconnectingdetector 41 and to subsequently apply current of reversed polarity fromthe source of current 104 to the circuit including relay 39, causingsuch relay to close contact 63. Detector 42 is thereby bridged acrossthe line conductors 4 and 5, and since detector 40 remains in bridgeofline conductors'ti and 7, such detectors are then binaurally observedthrough the medium of the set 33 as previously described and the angularrelation of the source of vibration to a base line joining detectors 40and 42 is determined. The operating circuit of detector 42 differs fromthat previously described for detector 41 in the substitution of contact63; for contacts 64 and 65 of relay 39, and in the substitution of thealternate -for the normal contacts of key 45.

Key 46 is then actuated to release relay 36 for disconnecting detector40 and for subsequently supplying current of reversed polarity from thesource of current 105 to the circuit including such relay, causing it toclose contacts 66 and 67 thereof to bridge detector 41 across lineconductors 6 and 7. Detector 42 remaining associated with lineconductors 4 and 5, the angular relation of the source of vibration tothe base line joining detectors 41 and 42 is determined through the useof the binaural observation set 33 as previously described. Theoperating circuit of detector 41 differs from that previously describedfor detector 40 in the substitution of the contacts 66 and 67 instead ofthose formerly included in circuit? with detector 40.

The observer then transmits a series of alternating current impulsesover the phantom circuit by the suitable actuation of key 1, therebyrestoring selector 34 and associated relays 37, 38 and'39 to normal. Key46 is then released, preparing the system for a further series ofselections. As in the case of the system shown in Fig. 1, other stationssuch as station C similar to station B may be selected in a similarmanner, the results of such observations providing data enabling theobserver to definitely locate the source of vibration.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switching system, a line conductor, a selecting and a selectablestation associated therewith, switching means at said selectablestation, means at said selecting station for energizing said switchingmeans,

additional switching means at said selectable station controlled by theoperation of said first-named switching means, and means whereby saidsecond-named switching means may be selectively connected with said lineconductor after the operation of said firstnamed switching means.

2. In a switching system, a plurality of selectable stationsinterconnected by a phantom circuit, a selecting station also connectedtherewith, means at the selecting station for applying alternatingcurrent impulses to the phantom circuit, a plurality of electricaldevices at each selectable station, switching means at each selectablestation individually responsive to a particular series of such impulses,means controlled thereby for preparing a metallic circuit including theside circuits of the phantom circuit, means at the selecting station forimpressing difierentiated current impulses on the metallic circuit, andmeans included in such metallic circuit and responsive todlfi'erentiated current impulses applied thereto at the selectingstation for selectively connecting the associated electrical devices tothe physical c1rcu1ts.,

3. In a signaling system, a plurality of conductors interconnecting areceiving and a plurality of transmitting stations, a signal receivingmeans associated therewith at the receiving station, a plurality ofsignal transmitters at each transmitting station, means at eachtransmitting station selectively controlled by code impulses impressedupon one circuit including predetermined ones of the conductors,selective means in said circuit for closing a circuit including some ofsaid conductors, selective means in said circuit for connecting saidtransmitters to certain of said conductors, and code impulsetransmitting means and current controlling means at the receivingstation for respectively selecting said transmitting stations andoperating said second selecting means to connect said transmitters.

4. In a signaling system, a plurality of conductors, a receivingstation'including a signal'receiving means associated therewith, aplurality of transmitting stations also associated therewith, aplurality of signal transmitters at each transmitting station, means ateach transmitting station selectively controlled by code impulsesimpressed upon a circuit formed of the conductors, selective means insaid circuit for closing a circuit including some of said conductors,means in said circuit forselectively connecting said transmitters tocertain of said conductors, and means for transmitting code impulses andcurrent controlling means at the receiving station for respectivelyselecting said transmitting station and operating said second selectingmeans to connect said transmitters.

5. In a switchin system, a plurality of line conductors, a selectingstation and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith,means at the selecting station for selectively applying current to eachof two circuits including the line conductors, means at each selectablestation selectively responsive to said current, switching means at eachselectable station, means controlled by said first named means forconnecting said switching means to said line conductors, and meansindependent of the first named means for selectively controlling saidswitching means after said switching means is connected to said lineconductors.

6. In a switchin system, a plurality of line conductors, a se ectingstation and a'plurality of selectable stations associated therewith, aplurality of electrical devices at each selectable station, means at theselecting station for selectively applying current to said lineconductors, means at each selectable station selectively responsive toourrent received over said conductors, a polarized relay at eachselectable station, means controlled by the firstnamed means at eachselectable station for connecting said polarized relay thereat to saidline conductors, means at said selecting station for selectivelyoperating said polarized relay after it is connected to said lineconductors, and a plurality of additional relays controlled by saidpolarized relay for selectively associating said detectors with certainof said-line conductors.

7. In a switching system, a simplexed circuit comprising a plurality ofmetallic line circuits, a selecting and a plurality of selectablestations associated therewith, means at said selecting station forapplying current to said simplexed circuit, switching means at eachselectable station selectively responsive to current received over saidsimplexed circuit, switching means at each selectable station controlledby the operation of said first-named switching means, and means wherebythe second-named switching means at each selectable station may beconnected with the line circuits of said simplexed circuit after theoperation of the firstnamed switchin means thereat.

8. In a switching system, a plurality of metallic line circuits, aselecting and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith,means at the selecting station for applying current to a phantom circuitincluding said line circuits, means at said selecting stations forapplying current to a simplexed circuit including a phantom circuit,switching means at each selectable station selectively responsive tocurrent received over the simple-xed circuit, additionalswitchingmeans'at each selectable station controlled by the operation ofsaid first-named switching means, and means whereby said secondnamedswitching means is connected with said phantom circuit after theoperation of said first-named switching means to be selectivelycontrolled by current received thereover. Y

9. In a switching system, a plurality of metallic line circuits, aselecting and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith,means at the selecting station for applying current to a phantom circuitincluding the line circuits, means at the selecting station for applyingcurrent to a simplexed circuit including the phantom circuit, switchingmeans at each selectable station selectively responsive to currentreceived over the simplexed circuit, an additional switching means ateach selectable station controlled by the operation of said firstnamedswitching means, means whereby said second-named switching means isconnected with the phantom circuit upon the operation of saidfirst-named switching means to be selectively controlled by currentreceived thereover, a plurality of electrical devices at each selectablestation, and means associated with said second-named switching means forselectively connecting said electrical devices to the line circuits.

10. In a switching system, a plurality of metallic line circuits, aselecting and a plurality of selectable stations associatedtherewith,,means at, the selecting station for selectively applyingcurrents of difierent polarities to a phantom circuitpin'cluding theline circuits, means also at the selecting station for selectivelyapplying currents of different polarities to a siinplexed circuitincluding the phantom circuit, a plurality of electrical devices at eachselectable station, an electromagnetic step-by-step selector at eachselectable station adapted to be selectively advanced into apredetermined position in response to the series of closely succeedingcurrent impulses of reversed polari ty received over the simplexedcircuit, a polarized relay at each selectable station connected with thephantom circuit upon the advancement of the selector thereat into itspredetermined position, and thereafter controlled by the current appliedto the phantom circuit at the selecting station, and means controlledthereby for selectively connecting the electrical devices with the linecircuits.

11. In a signaling system, a plurality of signaling pathsinterconnecting a single rereceiving and a plurality of transmittingstations, a signal receiving means at the receiving station, signaltransmitting means at the transmitting stations, means associated withsaid transmitting means for selectively signaling the transmittingstation, and

means controlled over certain ones of such paths to selectively connectthe signal transmitting means with such paths.

12. In a signaling system, a plurality of signaling pathsinterconnecting a single receiving and a plurality of transmittingstations, a signal receiving means associated with the paths at thereceiving station, signal transmitters at each of the transmittingstations, means associated with said signal transmitters for selectivelysignaling the transmitting station, means thereby selectively connectedwith certain of such paths, and means controlled thereby to selectivelyconnect the signal transmitters with the paths.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of July A.1)., 1919.

JOHN B. HARLOW.

